Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Fall 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2020
Organized by formidable organizer George Springate was the second-to-last hockey game ever played at the Montreal Forum (a day prior to the Canadiens’ memorable Forum finale), with autographed items galore from the event up for grabs here. Guy Lafleur’s game-worn Center Ice jersey is signed nicely on the Habs crest, while a huge Rod Gilbert autograph joins “LNH” on the front of the jersey he wore for a team of NHL Oldtimers. Ten members of the Habs Oldtimers autographed three Canadiens jerseys, with three others signed by a few of their opponents. Four sticks are multi-signed from the event, with a multi-signed jersey and three sticks from other events, along with numerous photographs, also present. Please see our website for further details and images.
The classic red Lafleur game jersey has Maska Ultrafil and size 52 tags joining the Center Ice label in the inner neck region, with everything sewn-on, including “LAFLEUR” on a sewn-on nameplate, with a fight strap indeed present, while Gilbert’s #7 NHL Oldtimers mesh jersey is an XL Trimark production, with a sewn-on two-color nameplate. Sweat marks at the cuffs are to note, with half a dozen of the same 8” by 10” photo picturing the famous Ranger along with his teammates that day. There’s also a nifty action shot of Yvan Cournoyer and Lanny McDonald included. Former Canadiens autographing the fronts of three different size numberless white Habs jerseys (men’s M, L and XXL) were Fillion, Goyette, St. Laurent, Pronovost, Gauthier, Langlois, Gilles Tremblay, Pierre Bouchard and Napier, with Marcel Bonin and Gilles Dubé autos appearing on one. Similar CCM Canadiens jerseys (two L, one XXL) are signed by Ted Lindsay, Rod Gilbert, Denis Brodeur and Brad March, with one signer stumping us. Four Titan TSM 8 Teemu Selanne (left) sticks also feature autographs, with Jean Beliveau, Pierre and Butch Bouchard, Lafleur, Gilles Tremblay, Goyette, St. Laurent, Pronovost, Larose, Gauthier and Napier autos showing up clearly on one side of the shaft. NHL Oldtimers Lindsay, Gilbert, Sittler, Marsh, J.F. Sauvé and three others autographed three similar Titan sticks. Meanwhile, multi-signed pieces are present from other George Springate-organized charitable events, one of them a CCM (size L) Canadiens jersey autographed when former Canadiens and Nordiques faced-off against one another at the Forum in February of 1995. Henri Richard’s auto graces the sewn-on Canadiens crest, while above are the sigs of Frank Mahovlich, Moore, Goyette, St. Laurent, Cournoyer, Shutt, Lambert, Houle, Mondou, Napier and four others. Most of the same men also signed a Titan TSM 88 model stick on the blade and shaft, including The Big M, Dickie, Guy and Henri. Two other sticks (Koho Revolution 2240 and Bauer Supreme 3306) feature big Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and “M Richard” autographs on or near the blades, with the shafts signed by about a dozen members of the ’92-93 Stanley Cup-winning Canadiens. They’re somewhat tough to make out but we spot Kirk Muller, Mario Roberge, Mike Keane, Mathieu Schneider and Stephan Lebeau sigs. Complementing and completing the bonanza are over a dozen photos of George Springate with Dick Irvin, Red Storey, Pete Mahovlich, Beliveau, Lafleur, Bobby Orr, Dennis Hull, Claude Raymond, Larry Smith and still more. Like his wife Judy says, “George knew so many people!” Two big (16” x 20”) photos picturing George with F. Mahovlich, Henderson, Beliveau, Dryden, Howe and a sponsor are from one of the numerous skate-a-thons that he organized, (although in multi-creased condition). Provenance notes detailing the pieces and stating where and when the autographs were obtained will be included, with a Letter of Authenticity from the Springate family also to accompany these terrific souvenirs that offer multiple possibilities.
The George Springate Collection
Classic Auctions is pleased to offer the personal collection of George Springate. A native Montrealer, George had an amazingly diverse and storied life. Long-time Montreal Alouettes fans know him as the placekicker for the 1970 Grey-Cup-winning Als, while also serving as a Quebec MNA; others for his police, education and political careers.
A unique Canadian, George made impressive contributions to his community, province and country throughout his life, for which he received the Order of Canada among many other honours. A superb fundraiser, he raised millions of dollars for Canadian youth, as well as other charities. Of particular interest to sports enthusiasts/collectors is his more than 50 years of organizing charity events, most particularly the dozens of celebrity skate-a-thons and Oldtimers hockey games that produced scarce and sought-after souvenirs, many featured in this auction.
While a Montreal police officer, George acquired two law degrees and played football at McGill University, was a radio and television personality, and a law professor for 33 years, co-founding the Police Technology Department at John Abbott College. Later in life, he served as a Canadian citizenship judge for 14 years, the last five as Canada’s Senior Judge. Following his death in November 2019, a House of Commons tribute stated, in part: "George was larger than life. He was a friend to all. He touched our lives by his friendship and his philanthropic work, which benefitted so many wonderful causes and organizations." Indeed, what a life!
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